Scottish Executive

Audiology

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to improve audiology services.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: A wide-ranging review of audiology service provision has just been completed and we are currently considering the review report before deciding on the best way forward.

  £750,000 was made available in April last year for the provision of hearing aids and for measures aimed at reducing waiting times.

  Last week a further £1.5 million was announced for the purchase of audiology equipment.

Birds

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government requesting that it make representations to the Government of Iceland regarding the proposed hydro-electric developments in Iceland and any threat to the breeding grounds of geese that winter in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: We have made no representations to the UK Government on this development.

Birds

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with the Government of Iceland or any international environmental agencies regarding the proposed hydro-electric developments in Iceland and any threat to the breeding grounds of geese that winter in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: We have had no discussions with the Icelandic Government on this proposal.

Cancer

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce the incidence of skin cancer.

Malcolm Chisholm: Cancer in Scotland: Action for change sets out a variety of measures aimed at improving prevention, earlier detection and treatment for all cancers. Awareness raising campaigns of the risks of unnecessary exposure to ultraviolet radiation are run by the Health Education Board for Scotland and local NHS Health Promotion Departments.

Child Protection

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reform the system for identifying and protecting vulnerable children.

Cathy Jamieson: The report of the multi-disciplinary review of child protection, It’s Everyone’s Job to Make Sure I’m Alright,  was published on 25 November 2002. In response we announced a three-year programme of sustained activity to reform child protection in Scotland. The First Minister is hosting a summit on 18 February to seek committed support to take this forward.

Cities

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether City of Edinburgh Council has requested any meetings with it following the cities review.

Ms Margaret Curran: The leader of City of Edinburgh Council is scheduled to meet with the First Minister on 30 January 2003. The cities review is one of a number of issues due to be discussed at that meeting.

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and what issues will be discussed.

Mr Andy Kerr: We meet regularly with COSLA to discuss issues relevant to local government. My next meeting with COSLA is on 18 February.

Culture

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the First Minister what progress the Scottish Executive has made in promoting the life and works of Robert Burns.

Mr Jack McConnell: The life and works of Robert Burns are rightly celebrated the world over – promoting Scotland, our history and our culture.

  In Scotland, new resources are assisting Burn’s promotion in schools, the arts and tourism. In particular, following the success of the 2002 Burns a’ That Festival, ministers will contribute a further £100,000 to this event.

Drug Misuse

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to address any increase in the level of crack cocaine use and whether any measures already introduced have met with success and, if so, whether it will give details of such measures, with particular regard to Grampian.

Hugh Henry: Effective strategic and tactical tasking and co-ordinating arrangements established in Scotland, together with a willingness of agencies to work together, mean that law enforcement is well placed to respond to a crack cocaine threat.

  In March 2002, the Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency (SDEA), in collaboration with the National Criminal Intelligence Service, produced an assessment of the impact of cocaine and crack cocaine in Scotland and made recommendations on how enforcement agencies might best respond to the problem. This will be updated in the current financial year. The SDEA is also represented on the Association of Chief Police Officers’ Crack Cocaine Group, which provides Scottish Police Forces with information on developments in England and Wales.

  Since 1997, Grampian Police have proactively targeted individuals involved in the sale or supply of crack cocaine. Long- and short-term operations have been mounted in relation to these individuals, in addition to the continual application of disruption techniques. Grampian Police Drug Squad have forged links with the West Midlands Police and Metropolitan Police in order to improve the flow of intelligence, and this is steadily reaping benefits.

  Data on the extent of the problem and the number of seizures of cocaine and crack cocaine are provided in the response to S1W-33149 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Drug Misuse

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on the presence of crack cocaine and incidence of misuse of the drug in each police force area, giving any information on any link to crime and demand on local drug services, with particular regard to Grampian.

Hugh Henry: Table 1 details the number and quantity of seizures of crack cocaine in each police force area from 1995 to 2000, the latest year where published data is available. Grampian Police data indicates that recoveries of crack cocaine within the Grampian Region have increased from 300 grammes in 1998 to 800 grammes in 2002.

  Table 2 details the percentage of new individual patients/clients who reported using cocaine and crack cocaine in the Grampian NHS Board area and Scotland-wide from 1997-98 to 2001-02.

  Crack cocaine use is strongly associated with both acquisitive and violent crimes. Recent research suggests that crack users took part in a significantly higher level of acquisitive crime and other criminality than other drug users. Typical crimes committed by crack users were shoplifting and handling stolen goods. In addition, cocaine and crack cocaine have strong links to the sex trade.

  A Working Group of the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse published a report in August 2002 on psychostimulant use in Scotland, particularly cocaine, crack cocaine and amphetamines. The report, which can be accessed on the national drugs website at http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org highlighted a small, but growing, problem of cocaine and crack cocaine use in Scotland and made a wide range of recommendations covering prevention, the planning and delivery of services, training, research and information, availability and resourcing. The recommendations are currently being implemented by the Executive.

  As part of the implementation work, the Executive’s Effective Interventions Unit issued practical guidance to Drug Action Teams and local agencies on the planning and delivery of services for cocaine and crack cocaine users. It has also committed funding of £100,000 per annum over the following two financial years, for a pilot service for cocaine and crack cocaine users in the Aberdeen area. Officials are currently working with the local Drug Action Team and local agencies on the details of the pilot service, which it is hoped will come into operation before the end of this financial year.

  Table 1: Seizures of Crack Cocaine; Number of Crack Cocaine Seizures by Police Force Area

  

 

1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



Scotland 
  

 1 
  

 2 
  

 3 
  

 18 
  

 34 
  

 34 
  



Central 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Fife 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Grampian 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

 10 
  

 19 
  

 31 
  



Lothian and Borders 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

 1 
  



Northern 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Strathclyde 
  

 1 
  

- 
  

 3 
  

 8 
  

 14 
  

 1 
  



Tayside 
  

- 
  

 2 
  

- 
  

- 
  

 1 
  

 1 
  



Force not specified 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Quantity of crack cocaine seizures (kg) 
  



Scotland1


- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.4 
  

0.4 
  

0.2 
  



Central 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Fife 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Grampian 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.3 
  

0.4 
  

0.1 
  



Lothian and Borders 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.0 
  



Northern 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Strathclyde 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.036 
  

- 
  

0.0 
  



Tayside 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.0 
  



Force not specified 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



  Note:

  1. It should be noted that due to the rounding of small numbers areas may not add up to the Scottish total.

  Table 2:

  New Individuals Reported to the Scottish Drug Misuse Database

  Percentage of New Individual Patients/Clients Who Reported Using Cocaine and Crack Cocaine

  

 

Grampian 
  

Scotland 
  



1997-98 
  

1998-99 
  

1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  

2001-02 
  

1997-98 
  

1998-99 
  

1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  

2001-02 
  



No. of Individuals reporting illicit drug use 
  

994 
  

777 
  

671 
  

592 
  

625 
  

7,637 
  

8,004 
  

9,269 
  

9,490 
  

9,629 
  



% reporting use of cocaine 
  

5 
  

8 
  

11 
  

11 
  

15 
  

2 
  

3 
  

5 
  

6 
  

7 
  



  Source: Scottish Drug Misuse Database.

  Notes:

  Seizures

  1. Information on seizures of drugs controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is published annually by the Home Office in a range of bulletins under the general title Statistics of Drug Seizures and Offenders Dealt With.

  2. Statistics on seizures cover seizures made during the year by police and by officials of HM Customs and Excise and other bodies. Seizures involving more than one drug are counted as a single seizure in the total number of seizures, but are counted separately against each individual drug or drug class involved.

  Scottish Drug Misuse Database

  3. The database collects anonymous information about new problem drug users presenting at a broad range of drug services across Scotland, including general practices.

  4. It is emphasised the information held on the Scottish Drug Misuse Database relates to new patients/clients. The definition of "new" is (a) the person is attending the particular service for the first time ever, or (b) the person has attended before but not within the previous six months. Thus, the statistics do not reflect the total number of drug misusers seen by services during any period. A study is presently under way on the feasibility of re-reporting individuals to the database at regular intervals. If re-reporting is implemented successfully, the database will provide a better source of information on the total number of people receiving treatment.

  5. All figures in the table exclude penal establishment inmates and information received from needle exchanges.

  6. More detailed information is published in the ISD Scotland publication Drug Misuse in Scotland 2001 which is available on the National Drug Misuse website.

Economy

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when Scottish gross domestic product per head will reach the same level as UK average gross domestic product per head.

Iain Gray: The composition of the Scottish economy is different to the UK as a whole with different industries having different contributions to overall output. Each industry is affected by global economic circumstances in a different way and consequently the overall performance of the Scottish economy and the UK average often differs. The Executive is committed to growing Scotland’s economy, but setting a relative GDP target is inappropriate.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a bill to reform the record of needs procedure.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive published the draft Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill on Friday 17 January 2003, copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 26036).

Education

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of S4 pupils gained five or more awards at level 5 or better in (a) Scotland, (b) the East Dunbartonshire Council area and (c) the East Renfrewshire Council area in each year from 1995.

Nicol Stephen: The information requested is contained in the following reports, published by the Scottish Executive Education Department:

  


Title 
  

Year of Publication 
  

Page 
  

Bib. number 
  



Examination Results in Scottish Schools 1995-97


1997 
  

98 
  

24983 
  



Examination Results in Scottish Schools 1996-98


1998 
  

98 
  

24984 
  



Examination Results in Scottish Schools 1997-99


1999 
  

98 
  

7541 
  



Examination Results in Scottish Schools 1999-2001


2001 
  

5 
  

17908 
  



Examination Results in Scottish Schools 2000-02


2002 
  

3 
  

25488 
  



  Copies of the above are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

  Since 1999, the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework has been used as the basis for reporting attainment. Level 5 equates to a Standard Grade at award 1 or 2 and an Intermediate 2 pass at award A-C.

Education

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of S6 pupils gained three or more awards at level 6 or better in (a) Scotland, (b) the East Dunbartonshire Council area and (c) East Renfrewshire Council area in each year from 1995.

Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31186 on 13 November 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  Since 1999, the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework has been used as the basis for reporting attainment. Level 6 equates to a Higher pass at award A-C.

Education

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of people there have been holding (a) no educational qualifications, (b) ordinary grade or equivalent qualifications, (c) higher grade or equivalent qualifications, (d) professional qualifications and (e) a degree qualification in (i) Scotland, (ii) the East Dunbartonshire Council area and (iii) East Renfrewshire Council area in each year from 1995.

Iain Gray: Table 1 showing highest qualification held by year from 1995 to 2001 for working age people in Scotland.

  


Year 
  

Number
(000) 
  

No Qualifications 
  

Below Ordinary Grade 
  

Ordinary Grade 
  

Higher Grade 
  

Professional 
  

Degree 
  



1995 
  

Number 
  

625 
  

398 
  

534 
  

983 
  

327 
  

356 
  



% 
  

19 
  

12 
  

17 
  

31 
  

10 
  

11 
  



1996 
  

Number 
  

637 
  

350 
  

531 
  

983 
  

360 
  

356 
  



% 
  

20 
  

11 
  

17 
  

31 
  

11 
  

10 
  



1997 
  

Number 
  

565 
  

416 
  

519 
  

984 
  

356 
  

374 
  



% 
  

15 
  

11 
  

14 
  

26 
  

9 
  

10 
  



1998 
  

Number 
  

541 
  

399 
  

495 
  

949 
  

357 
  

405 
  



% 
  

17 
  

13 
  

16 
  

30 
  

11 
  

13 
  



1999 
  

Number 
  

565 
  

374 
  

502 
  

933 
  

361 
  

428 
  



% 
  

18 
  

12 
  

16 
  

30 
  

11 
  

14 
  



2000 
  

Number 
  

553 
  

355 
  

499 
  

944 
  

390 
  

430 
  



% 
  

17 
  

11 
  

16 
  

30 
  

12 
  

14 
  



2001 
  

Number 
  

534 
  

305 
  

515 
  

951 
  

382 
  

485 
  



% 
  

17 
  

10 
  

16 
  

30 
  

12 
  

15 
  



  Table 2 showing highest qualification held by year from 1999 to 2001 for working age people resident in East Dunbartonshire.

  


Highest Qualification Held 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

2001 
  



Number 
  

% 
  

Number 
  

% 
  

Number 
  

% 
  



Ordinary Grade and Below 
  

25,400 
  

36 
  

22,000 
  

33 
  

21,000 
  

28 
  



Higher Grade 
  

20,900 
  

30 
  

19,400 
  

29 
  

27,600 
  

36 
  



Professional 
  

11,900 
  

17 
  

10,300 
  

15 
  

10,800 
  

14 
  



Degree 
  

11,500 
  

16 
  

15,700 
  

23 
  

16,200 
  

21 
  



  Table 3 showing highest qualification held by year from 1999 to 2001 for working age people resident in East Renfrewshire.

  


Highest Qualification Held 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

2001 
  



Number 
  

% 
  

Number 
  

% 
  

Number 
  

% 
  



Ordinary Grade and Below 
  

17,900 
  

35 
  

19,800 
  

35 
  

18,700 
  

34 
  



Higher Grade 
  

16,900 
  

33 
  

15,600 
  

28 
  

15,600 
  

28 
  



Professional 
  

 4,100 
  

 8 
  

 7,000 
  

13 
  

 8,000 
  

14 
  



Degree 
  

13,000 
  

25 
  

13,400 
  

24 
  

13,000 
  

23 
  



  All the numbers and percentages in the above tables will be subject to change in autumn 2003 when the Labour Force Survey is revised using information from the 2001 census.

Employment

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs there have been in the East Dunbartonshire Council area in each year from 1995.

Iain Gray: The number of jobs in East Dunbartonshire Council area in each year since 1995 are shown in the table:

  


Year 
  

Number of Jobs 
  



1995* 
  

22,899 
  



1996* 
  

23,961 
  



1997 
  

22,555 
  



1998 
  

26,191 
  



1999 
  

24,983 
  



2000 
  

25,935 
  



2001* 
  

27,641 
  



  Note:

  Figures denoted with * indicate aggregates from which agriculture class 0100 (1992 SIC) have been excluded.

Employment

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) total number of jobs and (b) employment growth rates have been in the (i) energy, (ii) water, (iii) manufacturing, (iv) construction, (v) distribution, (vi) hotels, (vii) restaurant, (viii) transport, (ix) communications, (x) banking, (xi) finance, (xii) insurance, (xiii) public administration, (xiv) education and (xv) health sectors in the East Dunbartonshire Council area in each year from 1995

Iain Gray: (a) The total number of employee jobs in East Dunbartonshire, by industry groups, in each year since 1995 is shown in Table 1.

  (b) The annual employment growth rate of employee jobs, in East Dunbartonshire, by industry groups, in each year since 1995 is shown in Table 2.

  Table 1

  


Industry 
  

1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

2001 
  



Agriculture and Fishing Energy and Water 
  

*497 
  

*205 
  

458 
  

331 
  

198 
  

179 
  

*93 
  



Manufacturing 
  

2,199 
  

3,006 
  

2,455 
  

2,868 
  

3,260 
  

2,839 
  

2,885 
  



Construction 
  

1,919 
  

1,777 
  

1,550 
  

2,171 
  

1,434 
  

1,886 
  

1,556 
  



Hotels and Restaurants 
  

1,553 
  

1,261 
  

1,548 
  

1,590 
  

1,671 
  

1,613 
  

1,550 
  



Distribution 
  

5,235 
  

5,182 
  

4,775 
  

4,971 
  

4,787 
  

4,794 
  

4,972 
  



Transport and Communications 
  

472 
  

474 
  

1,027 
  

932 
  

885 
  

914 
  

1,001 
  



Banking 
  

372 
  

324 
  

269 
  

263 
  

257 
  

318 
  

287 
  



Finance and Insurance etc 
  

2,941 
  

3,106 
  

2,729 
  

4,094 
  

4,355 
  

5,054 
  

6,291 
  



Public Admin/Defence; Compulsory SS 
  

746 
  

611 
  

455 
  

1,820 
  

1,869 
  

1,873 
  

1,184 
  



Education 
  

1,862 
  

2672 
  

2,187 
  

1,877 
  

1,611 
  

1,494 
  

2,596 
  



Health and Social Work 
  

3,406 
  

3,856 
  

3,703 
  

3,683 
  

3,232 
  

3,307 
  

3,342 
  



Other Services 
  

1,697 
  

1,488 
  

1,399 
  

1,592 
  

1,423 
  

1,664 
  

1,883 
  



  Table 2

  


Industry 
  

% Change
1995-96 
  

% Change
1996-97 
  

% Change
1997-98 
  

% Change
1998-99 
  

% Change
1999-2000 
  

% Change
2000-01 
  



Agriculture and Fishing Energy and Water 
  

-58.8% 
  

123.4% 
  

-27.7% 
  

-40.2% 
  

-9.6% 
  

-48.0% 
  



Manufacturing 
  

36.7% 
  

-18.3% 
  

16.8% 
  

13.7% 
  

-12.9% 
  

1.6% 
  



Construction 
  

-7.4% 
  

-12.8% 
  

40.1% 
  

-33.9% 
  

31.5% 
  

-17.5% 
  



Hotels and Restaurants 
  

-18.8% 
  

22.8% 
  

2.7% 
  

5.1% 
  

-3.5% 
  

-3.9% 
  



Distribution 
  

-1.0% 
  

-7.9% 
  

4.1% 
  

-3.7% 
  

0.1% 
  

3.7% 
  



Transport and Communications 
  

0.4% 
  

116.7% 
  

-9.3% 
  

-5.0% 
  

3.3% 
  

9.5% 
  



Banking 
  

-12.9% 
  

-17.0% 
  

-2.2% 
  

-2.3% 
  

23.7% 
  

-9.7% 
  



Finance and Insurance etc 
  

5.6% 
  

-12.1% 
  

50.0% 
  

6.4% 
  

16.1% 
  

24.5% 
  



Public Admin/Defence; Compulsory SS 
  

-18.1% 
  

-25.5% 
  

300.0% 
  

2.7% 
  

0.2% 
  

-36.8% 
  



Education 
  

43.5% 
  

-18.2% 
  

-14.2% 
  

-14.2% 
  

-7.3% 
  

73.8% 
  



Health and Social Work 
  

13.2% 
  

-4.0% 
  

-0.5% 
  

-12.2% 
  

2.3% 
  

1.1% 
  



Other Services 
  

-12.3% 
  

-6.0% 
  

13.8% 
  

-10.6% 
  

16.9% 
  

13.2% 
  



  Note:

  Figures denoted with * in Table 1 indicate aggregates from which agriculture class 0100 (1992 SIC) have been excluded.

Employment

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been in employment in the East Dunbartonshire Council area in each year from 1995, broken down by gender and what the growth rate has been in each category in each year.

Iain Gray: Table 1 shows the number of people in employment in the East Dunbartonshire Council area, in each year from 1999, by gender.

  Table 2 shows the annual percentage change in number of people in employment, in the East Dunbartonshire Council area, in each year from 1999, by gender.

  Table 1

  


Year 
  

East Dunbartonshire 
  



Male
(000) 
  

Female
(000) 
  

All
(000) 
  



1999 
  

28 
  

26 
  

54 
  



2000 
  

26 
  

25 
  

51 
  



2001 
  

33 
  

26 
  

59 
  



  Table 2

  


Years 
  

East Dunbartonshire 
  



Male 
  

Female 
  

All 
  



1999-2000 
  

-7.1% 
  

-3.8% 
  

-5.6% 
  



2000-01 
  

26.9% 
  

4.0% 
  

15.7% 
  



  The above data will be subject to revisions in autumn 2003. This is because the data is from the Labour Force Survey, which is currently based on data from the 1991 census. In autumn 2003, the Labour Force Survey will be revised to reflect the results of the 2001 census.

Employment

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32232 by Iain Gray on 13 December 2002, how many people have been unemployed in the East Dunbartonshire Council area in each year since 1995 and what the unemployment rates were in each year.

Iain Gray: The annual average residence-based claimant count unemployment level and rate for East Dunbartonshire Council Area and Scotland in each year from 1996 to 2002 are shown in the following table:

  

 

East Dunbartonshire 
  

Scotland 
  



Year 
  

Count 
  

Rate 
  

Count 
  

Rate 
  



1995 
  

2,927 
  

N/A 
  

203,494 
  

7.7% 
  



1996 
  

2,874 
  

5.1% 
  

195,102 
  

7.6% 
  



1997 
  

2,280 
  

4.1% 
  

159,606 
  

6.3% 
  



1998 
  

2,010 
  

3.6% 
  

141,527 
  

5.7% 
  



1999 
  

1,673 
  

3.0% 
  

133,850 
  

5.3% 
  



2000 
  

1,544 
  

2.8% 
  

119,478 
  

4.8% 
  



2001 
  

1,375 
  

2.5% 
  

108,076 
  

4.3% 
  



2002 
  

1,338 
  

2.4% 
  

104,596 
  

4.1% 
  



  Note:

  *All the above rates will be subject to revisions in autumn 2003. This is because they are dependent on information from mid-year population estimates and the Labour Force Survey. Revised mid-year population estimates will become available from analysis of the 2001 census and the Labour Force Survey will then be regrossed. This will give new estimates of economic activity.

  Comparable residence-based rates for 1995 are not available due to claimant count data for this year being held only for 1981 ward boundaries not 1991 ward boundaries from which the 1996 to 2002 rates are calculated.

Enterprise

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultancy contracts have been entered into by each local enterprise company in each of the last three years; how many such contracts are currently in place, and what percentage of the annual budget of each company each such contract has represented.

Iain Gray: This is an operational matter for the Enterprise Networks.

Fisheries

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in assessing the economic impact that reductions in fishing quotas will have on fishing communities such as Arbroath.

Ross Finnie: Work has been commissioned by the North East of Scotland Fisheries Development Partnership to look at the likely economic impact of the decisions arising from the December Council. The Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department and Sea Fish Industry Authority economists have also contributed to a socio-economic analysis and this will inform the decisions that ministers have to take over the next few days.

Health

Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve services for those suffering from chronic pain.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: In addition to local initiatives by NHS boards, we propose to commission a review of the current provision of chronic pain services in Scotland, measured against the recommendations of the Scottish Health Service Advisory Council report on the Management of Patients with Chronic Pain in May 1994. The outcome will help inform future action.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how Partnership Information Network guidelines are monitored and enforced and what penalties are faced by NHS trusts that fail to implement such guidelines.

Malcolm Chisholm: Partnership Information Network guidelines underpin the Staff Governance Standard and are an integral part of the Performance Assessment Framework which is the overarching process under which NHSScotland employers are held accountable. NHSScotland employers progress towards implementing the guidelines are monitored through completion of the Self Assessment Audit Tool (SAAT) which has been developed by and approved by the Scottish Partnership forum (SPF), Clinical Standards Board for Scotland (now Quality Improvement Scotland), Clinical Negligence Other Risks Indemnity Scheme (CNORIS) and Audit Scotland and which all employers are required to complete. The SAAT will be the subject of independent assessment by appointed external auditors, in partnership with the SPF. In addition to the SAAT, all employers are required to conduct an annual staff survey and to produce actions plans for improvement towards meeting the aims of the Staff Governance Standard. External auditors together with an SPF member will be expected to validate employers action plans and provide independent assurance that:

  the self-assessment process is robust;

  the action plan is agreed and is credible, and

  the action plan is being delivered (year on year).

  The aims and objectives of the Performance Assessment Framework will be woven into managers job tasks and activities and their performance in meeting these and the action plans will be influenced by the SAAT independent audit which in turn will impact on pay for performance.

Health

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the function of the Lanarkshire Health Executive, Unit 19, Enterprise House, Dalziel Street, Motherwell is; what dealings it has had with this organisation, and what monitoring has been put in place regarding the quality of service the organisation delivers.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have no knowledge of an NHS organisation operating under this name.

Health

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pregnant women have been tested for HIV in the Greater Glasgow NHS Board area in each year since 1999.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost of treating a baby born with HIV has been in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

Health

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost will be of routine HIV testing of pregnant women in the Greater Glasgow NHS Board area from April 2003.

Malcolm Chisholm: The cost of routine HIV testing of pregnant women in Greater Glasgow NHS Board area from April 2003 is estimated to be around £80,000 per annum.

Health

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being developed to ensure that pregnant women routinely tested for HIV in the Greater Glasgow NHS Board area from April 2003 are aware of the opt-out option.

Malcolm Chisholm: Prior to their booking visit, all pregnant women in Greater Glasgow NHS Board are sent information about antenatal tests that are offered routinely.

  From 1 April 2003, this will include information on the antenatal HIV test, why such tests are important, and the fact that patients can choose whether they take up the offer of a test or not.

Higher Education

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the retention of existing research and research-degree-awarding powers by Scottish universities.

Iain Gray: The Executive has no plans to withdraw either existing research powers or existing research degree awarding powers from Scottish higher education institutions.

Housing

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it offers lower income homeowners.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive provides direct support to lower income homeowners in a number of ways including the Central Heating Installation and Warm Deal Programmes and low-cost home ownership schemes within Communities Scotland’s housing investment programme. It also provides funding for local authorities to provide grants to private owners for improvement and repair works.

Local Government Finance

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how Glasgow City Council will be compensated for services that it delivers to residents beyond the city boundaries.

Mr Andy Kerr: The vast majority of Glasgow City Council’s expenditure is on services for its residents, including, for example, education and social work. However, Glasgow’s revenue grant allocation takes into account costs associated with commuters, tourists and other people residing out-with the city boundaries. Allowance is also made for costs to the city of cultural and other facilities.

  In addition, on 9 January 2003, in response to the findings of the Review of Scotland’s Cities, the Scottish Executive announced that Glasgow will receive £40 million over the next three years from the City Growth Fund, established to promote the success of our cities and their surrounding city-regions.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the report of its short-life action group on myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

Mr Frank McAveety: We expect the report to be published within the next two weeks. I will send copies to the parliamentary members of the Cross Party Group on ME. I take this opportunity to thank the members of the short-life group for giving their time and expertise, and the people outside the group who contributed to its work in person or in writing.

NHS Staff

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultant vacancies there are in each NHS acute hospital, broken down by speciality.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally. Information on vacancies in each NHS Acute Trust, broken down by speciality is available. This information is substantial and I will write to the member with a full answer. This will also be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Nursing

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurse vacancies there are in each NHS acute hospital, broken down by speciality.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not available centrally. Information on vacancies in each NHS Acute Trust, broken down by speciality is available. This information is substantial and I will write to the member with a full answer. This will also be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Nursing

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests by nursing staff for increased flexible working were (a) made and (b) granted in the last 12 months, broken down by NHS trust area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

People with Disabilities

Angus MacKay (Edinburgh South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are for Scotland to celebrate the European Year of Disabled People 2003.

Ms Margaret Curran: European Year of Disabled People 2003 (EYDP) will have its Scottish launch on 23 January.

  To celebrate the launch, there will be a ministerial reception in Edinburgh. Invitees include disabled people from all over Scotland, disability organisations, business leaders and civic and community leaders.

  The Scottish Executive set up a Scottish Steering Group for EYDP with membership from the majority of national disability organisations, the Disability Rights Commission, the STUC, COSLA and other interested parties. The steering group has agreed a set of aims and objectives for EYDP, and put together a work programme to help take these forward over the course of the year. The aims and objectives and work programme are set out as follows. The Scottish Executive takes this work programme seriously and has committed £200,000 to support it.

  The first piece of finished work by the steering group is a national newspaper supplement, which will be published on 23 January as part of the launch celebrations. Copies have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 26033).

  Aims and Objectives of the EYDP Scottish Steering Group

  AIM 1: To work towards the inclusion of all affected by disability through promoting well-informed, responsive and effective decision-making in policy and practice.

  Objectives:

  To initiate debate on disability, to raise awareness about the reality of disabled people’s lives and stimulate the engagement of disabled people with that debate

  To approach business leaders, professional bodies, and public and voluntary sectors to see how they might support the EYDP, raise awareness and improve their policies and practices

  To examine mechanisms to enable the views and priorities of disabled people to be fed into Scottish Executive policymaking

  AIM 2 : To build for the future by seeking to engage young people in the EYDP.

  Objectives:

  To raise awareness of the experiences of young disabled people making the transition from school into adult life.

  To foster understanding among policymakers and practitioners of the needs and aspirations of young disabled people, through encouraging consultation and contact with them.

  To approach organisations working with children and young people to promote their inclusion in EYDP.

  AIM 3: To raise public awareness of disability issues.

  Objectives:

  To identify and celebrate the contribution made by disabled people to Scottish society through fulfilling a variety of valuable roles.

  To draw attention to the normality of disabled people and disabled people’s lives, while highlighting the social barriers they confront and ways to overcome them.

  To draw attention to hidden aspects of disability, such as stigma and knock-on effects on friends and families.

  To ensure equal weight is given to the experiences, needs and aspirations of disabled people irrespective of their impairment, ethnic origin or circumstances.

  AIM 4: To ensure Scottish events are co-ordinated with UK-wide and European EYDP activities where possible.

  To receive regular reports from the Scottish NCC representative and disseminate information about UK-level EYDP developments.

  To share information about individual organisation’s activities via the EYDP Scottish Steering Group.

  To co-ordinate launch and closing events, making sure that objectives for Scottish events reflect and promote agreed aims and objectives for EYDP work in Scotland.

  Work Programme of the EYDP Scottish Steering Group

  


Activity 
  

Timing 
  

Details/Progress 
  



Raise awareness of EYDP through newspaper supplement 
  

For launch (published) 
  

Input from all member organisations 
  



EYDP website to promote the Year and exchange good practice 
  

For launch (published) 
  

www.scotland.gov.uk/eydp




Look at the activities being covered in the local EU-funded 
  projects. Learn from ideas. 
  

Throughout EYDP 
  

Potential to promote and advertise activity. 
  



Transport conference/awareness raising 
  

Autumn 
  

In discussion with relevant interests. 
  



Dialogue event with young people. Engage with COSLA's youth 
  dialogue initiative 
  

Summer 
  

In discussion with relevant interests. 
  



Co-ordinate and promote artwork or performance arts piece, 
  (consider scope for television or radio broadcast) 
  

For closing event/throughout EYDP 
  

In discussion with Scottish Arts Council and other relevant 
  interests. 
  



Establish proposals for consultative mechanisms 
  

By end of EYDP 
  

To consider whether an outcome of EYDP might be the establishment 
  of a structure for consultation and engagement between disabled 
  people, organisations of and for disabled people and policy 
  makers.

Population

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the trends have been in population and household size in the East Dunbartonshire Council area since 1961.

Ms Margaret Curran: Due to local government reorganisation in 1975 and 1996 it is not possible to give reliable figures for East Dunbartonshire prior to 1981 for population and 1994 for average (mean) household size.

  The total population in East Dunbartonshire local authority area rose from 109,684 as at the 1981 census to an estimated 110,760 in 2000. Estimated average (mean) household size fell from 2.68 persons per household in 1994 to 2.57 in 2000.

  In 1995, all the population within the old district council area of Bearsden and Milngavie and around 80% of the population of Strathkelvin fell within the East Dunbartonshire local authority area. Population estimates were produced for these parts of old district council areas but average household sizes were not.

  Population in the combined old district council areas of Bearsden and Milngavie and Strathkelvin rose from 113,116 as at the 1971 census to an estimated 127,220 in 2000. Average (mean) household size fell from 3.25 persons per household as at the 1971 census to 2.74 as at the 1991 census.

  It is not possible to provide equivalent household data from the 1961 census as the counties in place at that time split the area now covered by East Dunbartonshire into several different parts and covered very different areas.

  Census and Estimated Total Population and Average Household Size in the East Dunbartonshire Local Authority Area 1971 to 2000

  





Population 
  

Average Household Size 
  



Bearsden and Milngavie 
  

Strathkelvin 
  

Bearsden and Milngavie and Strathkelvin 
  

East Dunbartonshire 
  

Bearsden and Milngavie 
  

Strathkelvin 
  

Bearsden and Milngavie and Strathkelvin 
  

East Dunbartonshire 
  



1971 
  

35,8781


77,2381


113,1161

 

3.081


3.341


3.251

 



1981 
  

39,3511


86,6441


125,9951


109,6842


2.981


3.081


3.051

 



1991 
  

40,6121


85,1911


125,8031


110,6302


2.731


2.741


2.741

 



1992 
  

41,0002


85,9502


126,9502


110,3702


2.723


2.733


2.733

 



1993 
  

41,0502


85,6702


126,7202


110,1802


2.713


2.713


2.713

 



1994 
  

41,4002


85,8002


127,2002


110,6502

 
 
 

2.683




1995 
  

41,6002


86,1002


127,7002


111,1302

 
 
 

2.663




1996 
  

41,5402


85,6102


127,1502


110,7502

 
 
 

2.643




1997 
  

41,7502


85,5102


127,2602


110,8702

 
 
 

2.613




1998 
  

41,4202


84,3702


125,7902


109,5702

 
 
 

2.583




1999 
  

41,8002


85,3002


127,1002


110,6902

 
 
 

2.553




2000 
  

41,9202


85,3002


127,2202


110,7602

 
 
 

2.573




  Sources:

  1. Census (General Register Office for Scotland).

  2. General Register Office for Scotland Estimates.

  3. Scottish Executive 1992, 94, 96, 98 and 2000 based household projections.

  Note:

  That the 1992-based household projections were published in 1995 on an old district council area basis. The 1994-based projections were published in 1997 on a local authority basis. 1992-based household projections are used for 1992 and 1993, 1994-based for 1994 and 1995, 1996-based for 1996 and 1997, 1998-based for 1998 and 1999 and 2000-based for 2000.

Population

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the trends have been in the number of (a) single-person households, (b) single-parent families, and (c) households with children and two or more adults in the East Dunbartonshire Council area since 1961 .

Ms Margaret Curran: Due to local government reorganisation in 1975 and 1996 and a change in household projection methodology it is not possible to give reliable figures for East Dunbartonshire prior to 1994 for the household types requested.

  In 1995 all the population within the old district council area of Bearsden and Milngavie and around 80% of the population of Strathkelvin fell within the East Dunbartonshire local authority area. Information from the 1971, 1981 and 1991 censuses has been used to show the number of households within these two old district council areas. It is not possible to provide equivalent household data from the 1961 census, as the counties in place at that time split the area now covered by East Dunbartonshire local authority area into several different parts and covered very different areas.

  (a) In the combined old district council areas of Bearsden and Milngavie and Strathkelvin, the number of one adult households (with no children) rose from 3,843 as at the 1971 census to 9,069 in 1991 census. Information from the 1994-based household projections show 8,400 one adult households in the East Dunbartonshire local authority area in 1994 rising to 10,230 in 2000 (taken from the 2000-based household projections).

  (b) In the combined old district council areas of Bearsden and Milngavie and Strathkelvin, the number of one adult households with one or more child rose from 410 as at the 1971 census to 1,456 in 1991 census. Information from the 1994-based household projections show 1,400 one adult households with one or more child in the East Dunbartonshire local authority area in 1994 rising to 1,890 in 2000 (taken from the 2000-based household projections).

  (c) In the combined old district council areas of Bearsden and Milngavie and Strathkelvin, the number of two or more adult households with one or more child fell from 16,063 as at the 1971 census to 15,181 in 1991 census. Information from the 1994-based household projections show 12,700 two or more adult households with one or more child in the East Dunbartonshire local authority area in 1994 falling to 11,690 in 2000 (taken from the 2000-based household projections).

  Census and Household Projection Based Number of Households by Household Type in the East Dunbartonshire Local Authority Area 1971 to 2000

  

 

Bearsden and Milngavie 
  

Strathkelvin 
  

Bearsden and Milngavie and Strathkelvin 
  

East Dunbartonshire 
  



One Adult Households 
  



19711


1,399 
  

2,444 
  

3,843 
  
 



19811


2,074 
  

3,808 
  

5,882 
  
 



19911


2,956 
  

6,113 
  

9,069 
  
 



19922

 
 
 
 



19932

 
 
 
 



19943

 
 
 

8,400 
  



19953

 
 
 

8,700 
  



19963

 
 
 

8,900 
  



19973

 
 
 

9,200 
  



19983

 
 
 

9,700 
  



19993

 
 
 

10,100 
  



20003

 
 
 

10,230 
  



One Adult with Child(ren) Households 
  



19711


188 
  

222 
  

410 
  
 



19811


162 
  

459 
  

621 
  
 



19911


336 
  

1,120 
  

1,456 
  
 



19922

 
 
 
 



19932

 
 
 
 



19943

 
 
 

1,400 
  



19953

 
 
 

1,400 
  



19963

 
 
 

1,500 
  



19973

 
 
 

1,500 
  



19983

 
 
 

1,700 
  



19993

 
 
 

1,800 
  



20003

 
 
 

1,890 
  



Two or More Adults with Child(ren) Households 
  



19711


5,123 
  

10,940 
  

16,063 
  
 



19811


5,066 
  

11,649 
  

16,715 
  
 



19911


4,978 
  

10,203 
  

15,181 
  
 



19922

 
 
 
 



19932

 
 
 
 



19943

 
 
 

12,700 
  



19953

 
 
 

12,600 
  



19963

 
 
 

12,500 
  



19973

 
 
 

12,300 
  



19983

 
 
 

12,000 
  



19993

 
 
 

11,800 
  



20003

 
 
 

11,690 
  



  Source:

  1. Census (General Register Office for Scotland).

  2. the 1992-based household projection methodology did not allow the calculation of the household type breakdowns requested.

  3. Scottish Executive 1994, 96, 98 and 2000-based household projections. The 1994-based projections were published in 1997 on a local authority basis. 1994-based household projections are used for 1994 and 1995, 1996-based for 1996 and 1997, 1998-based for 1998 and 1999 and 2000-based for 2000.

  Note:

  1994, 96 and 1998-based household projections were published rounded to the nearest 100. 2000-based household projections were rounded to the nearest 10.

Population

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what increases it estimates that there will be in the number of two-adult households in the East Dunbartonshire Council area in the years for which figures are available.

Ms Margaret Curran: Assuming that previous trends in household formation continue, the Scottish Executive projects that between 2000 and 2014, the number of two adult households without children in the East Dunbartonshire local authority area will increase from 12,660 to 15,010.

  The table shows the total number of households and number of two adult households there are projected to be in Scotland and in the East Dunbartonshire local authority area for years 2000 to 2014.

  Projected Number of Two Adult (No Children) Households in the East Dunbartonshire Local Authority Area 2000-14

  

 

Scotland 
  

East Dunbartonshire 
  

Scotland 
  

East Dunbartonshire 
  



All Households 
  

Two Adult Households 
  



2000 
  

2,203,160 
  

42,110 
  

648,390 
  

12,660 
  



2001 
  

2,222,100 
  

42,620 
  

655,910 
  

12,850 
  



2002 
  

2,239,470 
  

43,070 
  

665,020 
  

13,070 
  



2003 
  

2,257,310 
  

43,520 
  

674,290 
  

13,270 
  



2004 
  

2,276,310 
  

43,970 
  

683,910 
  

13,470 
  



2005 
  

2,294,620 
  

44,430 
  

692,800 
  

13,640 
  



2006 
  

2,313,210 
  

44,860 
  

702,050 
  

13,820 
  



2007 
  

2,332,380 
  

45,270 
  

711,970 
  

13,970 
  



2008 
  

2,351,940 
  

45,680 
  

722,270 
  

14,150 
  



2009 
  

2,370,450 
  

46,030 
  

732,260 
  

14,300 
  



2010 
  

2,389,290 
  

46,430 
  

742,310 
  

14,460 
  



2011 
  

2,407,810 
  

46,750 
  

751,970 
  

14,600 
  



2012 
  

2,426,080 
  

47,070 
  

761,490 
  

14,730 
  



2013 
  

2,444,700 
  

47,380 
  

771,210 
  

14,870 
  



2014 
  

2,461,740 
  

47,680 
  

780,330 
  

15,010

Regeneration

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will produce a consultation paper on urban regeneration companies.

Ms Margaret Curran: We intend to commence consultation in March.

Roads

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve single track roads in the Highlands and Islands.

Lewis Macdonald: We are upgrading a 4 mile section of the A830 trunk route to two-lane carriageway between Arisaig and Kinsadel. This new section will be open to traffic in the spring. Preparation work is also being carried out which will allow decisions on upgrading the remaining 4.5 miles of this route to be made.

  The responsibility for improving single track local roads lies with the councils concerned.

Schools

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Executive plans to re-evaluate the use of public private partnership as a means of financing schools.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Accounts Commission recently evaluated a number of schools PPP projects and concluded that PPP has delivered real benefits in terms of project management, risk transfer and financial control. All specific projects are assessed to ensure value for money.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its expenditure is greater or less than the revenue raised and whether its spending plans would be affected if expenditure is matched to revenue.

Mr Andy Kerr: Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland (GERS), 2000-01, sets out the Executive’s latest estimates of expenditure and revenue flows related to Scotland. It shows that, excluding oil revenues, estimated expenditure for Scotland exceeded estimated revenues raised by around £5.4 billion in 2000-01.

  GERS does not make forecasts of spending or revenue for the years after 2000-01.

Scottish Water

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for Scottish Water.

Ross Finnie: The Executive expects that Scottish Water will deliver a £1.8 billion modernisation programme aimed at improving drinking water quality, creating a cleaner environment and improving services at least cost to its customers.

Special Educational Needs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what period the £150,000 announced by the Minister for Education and Young People on 14 January 2003 for the Inclusive Learning Network for children with special educational needs will cover.

Cathy Jamieson: The Inclusive Learning Network was formally launched on 14 January 2003. The Equity Group were awarded £150,000 to take forward this project within the period June 2002 to March 2004. Funding is paid through the Special Educational Needs Innovation Grants Programme.

Sport

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to encourage young people to continue to participate in sport after leaving school.

Mike Watson: One of the key aims of the existing School Sports Co-ordinator Programme is to develop links between schools and local sports clubs which will enable our young people to continue their involvement in sport after leaving school. I am satisfied that with the significant increase in resources in the Scottish Budget for School Sports Development Officers, we will be able to strengthen these links.

Waste Management

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in relation to the introduction of the European Union law that requires the recycling of unwanted cars and other vehicles.

Ross Finnie: EC Directive 2000/53/EC on End of Life Vehicles aims at the prevention of waste from vehicles and the re-use, recycling and other forms of recovery of end-of-life vehicles and their components, with a view to reducing waste disposal. We are liasing with the UK Government and other devolved administrations about the best means of implementing the directive. We will also consult industry about our proposals prior to developing the necessary legislation.

Waste Management

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been (a) awarded to and (b) spent by each local authority for the storage, transportation and disposal of disused fridges and freezers.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-23475 on 7 March 2002 and S1W-32103 on 2 December 2002, (All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search ) detailing the amounts of specific grant to local authorities in 2001-02 and 2002-03 respectively. The Executive’s three-year funding settlement for local authorities, announced on 4 December 2002 and detailed in Finance Circular No 10/2002 (Parliament’s Reference Centre Bib. number 25556), contained further provision for waste management and disposal of fridges, as follows:

  


Year 
  

£ million 
  



2003-04 
  

4 
  



2004-05 
  

4 
  



2005-06 
  

2.5 
  



  That funding will be disbursed as part of the local authority settlement for those years and allocated under the GAE distribution formula for waste disposal.

  Local Authority Provisional Outturn and Budget Estimate returns to the Scottish Executive identify expenditure on Waste Collection, Waste Disposal, Street Cleaning and Recycling. They do not separately record expenditure on the storage, transportation and disposal of disused fridges and freezers.

Water Fluoridation

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek a debate and a vote in the Parliament on fluoridation of the public water supply.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable for action will be following the consultation period on fluoridation of the public water supply.

Malcolm Chisholm: The consultation document Towards Better Oral Health in Children , published on 28 September 2002, seeks views on a range of possible measures to improve children's oral health, including fluoridation. The outcome of the consultation, which is due to end on 28 February, will inform proposals on future action which would then be subject to the view of Parliament.

Young Offenders

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the statement in paragraph 139 of the Audit Scotland report, Dealing with offending by young people , that "a serious problem is the lack of throughcare and aftercare" and "prisoners serving less than four years are not subject to statutory aftercare and may receive no support after leaving prison".

Hugh Henry: We have recognised the need for improved throughcare and aftercare of prisoners in a major new policy development based on the Tripartite Group’s report, Developing the Service. The report, which is to be published later this month, identifies young offenders as a priority group. Membership of the Tripartite Group is drawn from the Scottish Executive, the Scottish Prison Service and local authorities.

Young People

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the destinations were of school leavers in (a) Scotland, (b) the East Dunbartonshire Council area and (c) East Renfrewshire Council area in each year from 1995.

Nicol Stephen: The information requested can be found in Table 4 of the News Release Destinations of Leavers from Scottish Schools 2001/02 published by the Scottish Executive on 18 December 2002. A copy of the above is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 25743).